Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



HENRY HAMMOND. OF HARTFORD,ASSIGNOR TO LEWIS IAISIMODH), OF

COLLINSVILLE, CONNEGTGUT.

Letters Patent No. 112,589, dated March 14,1871'.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

The Schedule referred to in them Letten Patent and making part of the eamo.

To all whom lit may concern.'

'Be it known that I, HENRY( HAMMOND, of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Breech-loading Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following'is a full, clear, andexact description thereof, kreference being had to the accompanying drawings making part of this specitication and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 represents a side view ot' so much`of the arm as will illustrate the invention, and as it appears when the breech-block is closed and the hammer down.

Figure 2 represents a top view, with the breechblock swung open and the hammer drawn back, as when prepared for receiving a cartridge.

Figure vrepresent-s a vertical section through the arm, so as to show the parts within.

Figures 4, 5, and represent details of the arm, which will be incre particularly referred toil. the description. Like letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

My invention consists in combining with a breecl1- block that moves laterallvand obliquely rearward in opening and closing the breech, an ejector, operated by said breech-block in a, right line for drawing out the empty cartridge-case; also, in so controlling 'the movements of the breech-block and of the ejector that the breech-block shall move first and then the ejector shall move rearward with a more rapid motion than the breech-block, until the empty casev is drawn out, when the ejector' is tripped and dies back, while the breech-block may remain stationary and open, so as to reload the arm; and

My invention further consists iu causing the nosc and heel ofthe hammer, when down, as in the act of tiring, to aid the locking-boltin holdingthe breechblock against any accidental opening by the recoil of t-he discharge, and make it more rm and secure.

My invention further consists in making the hammer of such a form that, when at half-cock, it cannot be moved when the breech is opened, and, when at full cock, it cannot be snapped when the breech is open; and

My invention further consists in Serrat-ing or roughening the breech-block and the hammer at the points where they would touch cach other when the former is swung open, and the latter accidentally or otherwise let down against it, to prevent an accidental discharge should the breech-block bc closed without cockingthe hammer, which the said serrations prevent being done. To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, the following description is given, with references to the drawings.4 A represents the barrel z B, the stock;

C, the stock-frame;

D, the hammer; and 1 l E, the trigger ofthe arm. I l

The barrel and stockpf the arm are connected by the piece F, which forms a jonrnal'for the breechblock G to move, and be supported and he locked upon.

OnAthe frame O there is formed the cam-plane a, and on the rear ofthe breech-block G there is formed a similar cam-surface, b, so that. when the breechblock is swung to the lcft to open the bore ofthe gun,

it will also also have an oblique rearward movement,

and when moved to thetrightlw closefthe: bore, it will llave a forward oblique.1no\'ementl .Y

Through a vertical opening in ther breech-block is placed a tlni|nb-piece,f=ll, which -Vlits overga lockingbolt, c, so that by pressing upon the thumb-piece when the breech is closed the bolt c may be pressed down against the spring d to unlockthe breech-piece and allow it to be moved. y

When the breech-block is unlocked and turned to thel left the bolt c enters the spiral groove G' upon the inside surface ofthe breech-block, (see iig. 5,) and serves as a guide to force the said block to the rear, keeping it in contact with cani-plane a above dcscribed.

Through the breech-block and through the thumbpiece passes the iiringpin e, that transmits the blow of the hammer to thc cartridge, the opening through the thumb-piece being of a suitable form to admit of its ncccssary vert-ical motion.

On the lower end of the thumlrpicce H there is a projection, f, that works in a groove, g, cut in `the picco F.

There is also cut in the piece F a longitudinal slot,

i, parallel withits axis, in which the cjectorjworks. R

This ejector, as more distinctly secu in iig. 4, has i lip, k, upon its forward end, for catching hold ofthe flange of the cartridge-case to draw it ont.

It has also an oblique groove, 7, cnt' across its npper side, and a reduced portion, m, which works against a spiral spring, n, held in a socket in thc frame C.

lhc part o of the ejector' is beveled olf for a purpose that will be explained.

When the thumb-piece il is pressed down it also presses down the locking-bolt c, and by turning the breech-block to the left the projection f takes the groove l in the ejector and draws it back against the spring a, and thus withdraws the empty cartridge-casc from the bore of the barrel.

' When t-he projection f has passed through thc slot l the spring n suddenly shoots the ejector' forward into its position for catching forward of the rim of the next cartridge placed 'in the arm.

When the breech-block is turned to close the breech.

charges; and it is also so shaped that, when the block standsv open, the heel of the hnmmerg prevents it from being snapped. .v t

The hammer and the rear and 0C the breech-block,

at r and s, iig. 2, are checked or serrated at the points which come in contact when the block is open, or partly so, so that if the hammer be allowed to rest upon the breech-block it will prevent the block from being pushed to a. closer. position, which might allow the hammer to fall with sneient force upon the firingpin to ignite the charge.

When the hammer is at half-cock the corner of the breech-block next to the piece F, on the' upperside, passes into 'the notch z, iig. 3, which holds the hammer from being either cocked oli let down until ,the breech is closed.' I

The friction-suii'aee of -the bearing F, (see fig. 6,) on which the breech-block turns, is grooved, as also is the snrface'of the thnmb-piece'H-and that of the.

iring-pin e, for the purpose of lessening the friction and affording better means for retaining the lubricatj ing material.

The front part of the stock B', at the joint between it and tliefmme C, is liablel to shrink' and leave an open joint. To remedy this I insert a nut, 'vinl the wood of the stock, and pass a screw-bolt, w, from the frame into this nut, so that the stock may'at any time be drawn up tight against the flame.v

' mates:

Claims.

lVhnt I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent., is-

l. The combination of the. breech-block G, the thumb-piece H, with its prqiectonf, and the ejector j, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described. 4 f

2. The combination of the projeotionf for operating the ejector, the oblique slot l, whereby the ejector is moved rearward more rapidly than the breech-block. and the. beveled edge o, for allowing. the projection f to pass over scribed.` v 3. The peculiar form given to the heel q of the hammer, which, iu connection with the breech-block, prevents its being snapped when at fnllcoek and the breech is open, the notch a1, whichwllallow the breechblock to pas-s when the hammer. is at half-cock, and prevent the hammer being moved when the, breech is open, substantially as herein specified.

4. The checked or selrated rear of the breech-block, and the checks or serrations on the i'ront'of the hama nier at 'the p'arrs which `come in contact' when the block is open, or partially so, so that if the hammer is allowed to rest upon the block it will prevent the Alatter lfrom being closed,'substantially as herein speci` the ejector, substantially as herein dehed.

5. Theicom'bination of' the spiral groove G' with the locking-bolt c, for the purpose ot' forcing and guiding the breech-block to the rear, substantially as herein described.

HENRY HAMMOND.

Witnesses". f Trino. G. ELLIS, ZALMON A. Sronn's. 

